Corrective mouth breather



Dec, 16, 1924.

W. G. JOHNSON CORRECTIVE MOUTH BREATHER Filed Nov. 17', 1922 INVENTOR; W6. Johnson,

B ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 16, T92 1.

HALTER G. JOHNSON, F CHILDRESS, TEXAS.

CORRECTIVE MOUTH BBEATHER.

Application filed November 17, 1922.

T 0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TVALTER G. JorrNsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ghildress, in the county of Childress and State of T exas, have invented a new and useful Corrective lriouth Breather, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a corrective mouth breather, and has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of such class to cause the passage of the breath through the nose, the normal channel therefor, so as to receive warmth and moisture, which is very essential for properly or: genizing the blood and relieving anzemia, and thereby overcoming the ill results by breathing through the mouth, such ill results being dry mouth, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, inflamed lymphoid tissue known as adenoids, narrowing of the posterior pharangeal space, arching the roof of the mouth, irregular spaced teeth, collapse of the eustachian tube, sclerosis of the ear drum, and defective hearing.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a corrective mouth breather which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, thoroughly etiicient and convenient in its use, readily ap plied in operative position, and inexpensive to manufacture.

VVith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to, which fall within the scope' of the claims h reunto appended.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a side elevation of a corrective mouth breather in accordance with this invention and further illustrating the same in operative position with respect to the wearer.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a corrective mouth breather in accordance with this invention.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of the lower portion of the device.

A corrective mouth breather in accordance Serial No. 601,580.

with this invention comprises an adjustable securing element, two pairs of resilient hanger members depending from said element, at supporting member connected to the hanger members, and a combined mouth closure and chin piece secured to and carried by the holder member.

The adjustable securing element comprises a pair of flexible tapering strips 1, 2, of fabric, of substantial width and length and each of which has the edges thereof reinforced throughout by a binder strip 3, stitched therewith as at 4. The strip 2, at its upper portion, is folded upon itself to provide an inwardly extending flap 5, and the latter is secured to the body portion of the strip 2, by a row of stitching 6. The flap 5 is also secured to the body portion of the strip 2, by a row of spaced eyelets 7 extending transversely of the strip 2 and in proximity to the bend 8. Secured to the outer face of the strip 1 near its upper end, as at 9, is a fold ed strip 10 of flexible material provided with a row of eyelets 11. Coacting with the eyelets 7 and 11 is a lacing 12 for adjustably connecting the strips 1, 2 together and for further securing the device around the head of the wearer.

The resilient hanger members of one pair are indicated at 13, 14: and the resilient hanger members of the other pair are indicated at 15, 16. The hangers 13 and 1 1 are of greater length, as well as of greater width, than the length and width of the hangers 15 and 16. The hangers 13 and 141 are arranged forwardly with respect to the hangers 15 and 16, and each of the hangers is formed from a suitable length of elastic tape. The hangers 13 and 15 are secured to the lower end of the strip 1. depend therefrom, and further arranged in spaced relation with respect to each other. The hangers 14 and 16 are secured to the lower end of the strip 2, and depend therefrom, and further are arranged in spaced relation latively to each other.

The supporting member comprises a body portion 17 having projecting from one end thereof a. pair of straps 18, 19 and from its other end a pair of straps 20, 21. The straps 18 and 20 are of greater width than the straps 19 and 21, and the said body portion 17, as well as each of the straps is reinforced throughout by a binder 22, secured in position by a row of stitching. The straps 19 and 2]. are of greater length than the straps 18 and 20; The lower portions of the straps 19 and 21 extend across the outer face of the lower portions of the straps 18 and 20. The stitching which secures the binder 22 in position. is indicated at 23 generally and said stitching not only secures the binder 22 in position, but the lower portions of the straps 19 and 21 to the lower portions of the straps 18 and 20 and said stitching further connects the combined mouth closure and chin piece to the holder member.

The combined mouth closure and chin piece is indicated at 24, and is set up of a substantially semi-circular piece of rubberized cloth and which has one edge provided with a binder 25. The combined mouth closure and chin piece is secured to the straps 18 and 20 and to the body portion 17, and the lower portions of the straps 19 and 21 are also connected to said combined mouth piece and closure.

The straps 18 and 20 are secured to the lower ends of the hangers 13 and 14- and the straps 19 and 21. are secured to the lower ends of the hangers 15 and 16.

The corrective mouth breather constructed in the manner as herein referred to provides means, when the device is mounted in position, whereby the jaws are held up in a manner as to give freedom of movement of the head. The hangers allow for movement of the jaws at will, and further enable one to remove or to place the device on the head without unlacing. due to the fact that the hangers are elastic. The lacing enables one to equalize the pressure on the chin and crown of the head. as well as adjusting the device to conform to different sizes of heads. The combined mouth closure and chin piece prevents inhalation of air through the mouth, due to the fact that when the device is in position, the said chin piece presses against the lips and sides of the mouth when an attempt is made to inhale air through the mouth. The device when applied in the manner as shown in Figure 1, causes the breath to pass through the nose, the normal channel therefor, so as to receive warmth and moisture, a very essential thing for prop-- erly oxygenizing the blood, and further the device prevents breathing through the mouth,

due to the position of the combined mouth closure and chin piece which extends across and closes the mouth and is maintained in close contact with the chin. The combined mouth'and chin piece is retained in proper position, due to the manner in which the straps are disposed, as one pair of straps pulls directly upwardly and the other pair pulls rearwardly at an upward inclination.

lVhat I claim is: v

1. A device for the purpose set forth comprising a holder member including a body portion having a pair of forward and a pair of rear straps extending upwardly therefrom, the lower portions of said rear straps extending across the outer face of the lower portions of said forward straps, a combined mouth closure and chin piece formed of rubberized fabric, said combined closure and chin piece projecting forwardly from said member and secured to said body portion and forward pair of straps, an adjustable securing element. and two pair of resilient hangers depending from said ele ment, one pair of said hangers connected to said forward pair of straps and theother pair of hangers connected to the rear pair of straps.

2. A device for the purpose set forth comprising a holder member including a-body portion having a pair of forward and a pair of rear straps extending upwardly therefrom, the lower portlons of said rear straps extending across the outer face of the lower portions of said forward straps, a-

combined mouth closure and chin piece formed of rubberized fabric, said combined closure and chin piece projecting forwardly from said member and secured to said body portion and forward pair of straps, an adjustable securing element, and two pair of resilient hangers depending from said element, one pair of said hangers connected to said forward pair of straps and the other pair of hangers con nected to the rear pair of straps, said rear pair of straps disposed at an upward and rear inclination with respect to said forward pair of straps.

w. e. JQHNSON. 

